Martin Tankleff cleared of all charges in parents' slaying

[flashl]

Source: AP

Martin Tankleff is home free.

The Suffolk County District Attorney is moving to dismiss an indictment against the Long Island man wrongly convicted of murdering his wealthy parents, a source told the Daily News.

District Attorney Thomas Spota also will ask the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether "other individuals" were really responsible for the double slaying.

Tankleff, 36, spent 17 years in prison for the brutal 1988 homicide at his family's waterfront Belle Terre home.

But two weeks ago, an appeals court found he had been tricked into confessing to the crime and tossed out the conviction.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/02/2008-01-02_martin_tankleff_cleared_of_all_charges_i.html

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. Holy SHIT!

That's incredible.

The DA's office in this case has insisted for years that they would never reverse, so they must have some pretty much irrefutable evidence of actual innocence. Crazy crazy.

Suffolk County cops. Dang.

[msanthrope]

2. Finally--Justice is done and I hope Marty Tankleff sues the

pants off the Sufolk County authorities who bungled this case---and let's hope that his Dad's business partner finally gets investigated.

The DA in this case should have tossed these charges years and years ago--but when your law firm represents the only alternate suspect (the business partner) I guess you tend to have tunnel vision.......

[Pastiche423]

4. Hasn't the business partner died?

What a sleazy ass.

I've been reading about this case for years. IIRC, all of his extended family has believed from the get go that Marty was innocent.

[Window]

10. I don't know if he's dead now,

but at the time of the murder, he faked his death and fled to California. Piece of shit.

I saw this on the show "48 Hours." I am overjoyed that Marty is freed.



Peace:thumbsup:

[Pastiche423]

11. Maybe that's what I'm remembering

48 Hours has covered this several times over the years.

[jhrobbins]

3. Thank you for this post - I have been following this kid for a long time

-even writing to his lawyer once. So glad to hear this.

[melody]

5. Thank heavens - it was a very strongly worded message from the appeals court too

I hope Marty goes after them in the traditional American way -- I hope he sues their butts off.

[AZ Criminal JD]

6. Unfortunately those released who may be innocent can't sue

Prosecutors have absolute immunity for their decisions.

[NYC]

7. In some cases, the innocent can sue.

When malice is involved, some states allow law suits.

[AZ Criminal JD]

8. Correct but as you say the states have to allow the suit

[NYC]

9. I don't know which states allow it.

I don't even know if New York State allows it.